The Québec City Convention Centre and the Cité des Congrès de Nantes (and Exponantes) announced the official launch of H₂Orizon, a new international conference dedicated to sustainable water management. The announcement was made during the Québec Capitale Climat 2026 Summit, in the presence of Université Laval Rector Sophie D’Amours. Jointly initiated by the two convention centres this conference was created to foster dialogue, knowledge sharing, and the emergence of concrete solutions in response to the growing global challenges related to water. The first edition will take place from February 14 to 17, 2027, at the Québec City Convention Centre.
Under the aegis of Université Laval and in collaboration with Nantes Université, H₂Orizon will bring together researchers, public decision-makers, private-sector stakeholders, Indigenous representatives, non-governmental organizations, and international experts to address the major water-related challenges of our time.
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On the French side, Mr. Denis Caille, Chief Executive Officer of the Cité des Congrès de Nantes, welcomed a long-standing collaboration between the two regions: “For years, the cities of Québec and Nantes, through their convention centres in particular, have collaborated on common themes: culture, digital technology, and the environment. Building on this relationship, the Québec City Convention Centre and the Cité des Congrès de Nantes are launching a new cooperation project focused on water. A conference will be held in February 2027 in Québec, followed by another in Nantes in 2029, with the active participation of Université Laval and Nantes Université. This theme was not chosen at random, as beyond the broader climate challenges we are facing, water is a major concern in both Canada and France, and particularly in Québec and Nantes. We are confident that this new collaboration will be a success and will mobilize all our institutional, economic, and scientific partners in both France and Canada. This event is also proof of the dynamism of the cooperation between our two regions and of our shared values,” said Mr. Denis Caille.
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“Université Laval, drawing on the expertise of its research community, particularly within the c-EAU centre and the CentrEau network, is positioning itself as a key player in water management innovation. H₂Orizon represents a privileged opportunity to showcase this expertise internationally and to foster meaningful exchanges on major water-related challenges. Alongside our academic, industrial, and governmental partners, we are committed to making this conference a driver of collaboration and progress toward sustainable solutions,” said Ms. Eugénie Brouillet, Vice-Rector for Research, Creation, and Innovation at Université Laval.
Céline Vaneeckhaute, professor at Université Laval, director of the Université Laval Water Research Centre (c-EAU), and scientific ambassador of H₂Orizon 2027, also expressed enthusiasm for this unique initiative: “This international water conference is a unique opportunity to bring together researchers, policymakers, municipalities, industry representatives, and field actors around major challenges related to sustainable water management. In a context marked by climate change and increasing pressure on water resources, the event aims to foster international collaboration, knowledge sharing, and the development of concrete, implementable solutions. The collaboration between Québec and Nantes reflects a shared commitment to advancing knowledge and practices in order to better address environmental, territorial, and societal water-related challenges,” said Ms. Vaneeckhaute.
H₂Orizon is also supported by a strategic partnership with Carrefour de l’eau, whose expertise and network of stakeholders strengthen the conference’s anchoring within Québec’s water community and beyond. This collaboration reflects a growing dynamic, as Québec City increasingly positions itself as an international reference hub where research, innovation, and strategic dialogue converge on major water issues.
H₂Orizon 2027 is built around four complementary ambitions: fostering a high-level scientific dialogue platform, showcasing knowledge and innovations from all continents, building a lasting international expert network, and generating concrete action pathways for global dissemination.
Individuals and organizations interested are invited to register on the official conference website and follow upcoming announcements to stay informed.
